Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories
San Mateo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,933 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than West Covina
West Covina, CA
Pros
Homes cost $844k less ($664,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($2,054 vs $2,971)
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $52,933/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$52,933
$149,152 vs $96,219/yr
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
West Covina
Median Home Value
$844k less
$664,500 vs $1,508,900
West Covina
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $664,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $2,054⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
West Covina is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories. San Mateo wins 10 and West Covina wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from San Mateo to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $664,500 median home), income ($149,152 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and West Covina, CA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.